lever

1 of 2

noun

le·​ver ˈle-vər  ˈlē- 

1

a

: a bar used for prying or dislodging something

b

: an inducing or compelling force : tool

… use food as a political lever …

—Time

2

a

: a rigid piece that transmits and modifies force or motion when forces are applied at two points and it turns about a third

specifically : a rigid bar used to exert a pressure or sustain a weight at one point of its length by the application of a force at a second and turning at a third on a fulcrum

b

: a projecting piece by which a mechanism (see mechanism sense 1) is operated or adjusted

Illustration of lever

• lever 2a

lever

2 of 2

verb

levered; levering ˈle-və-riŋ 

ˈlē-;

ˈlev-riŋ, 

ˈlēv-

transitive verb

1

: to pry, raise, or move with or as if with a lever

2

: to operate (a device) in the manner of a lever

Synonyms of lever

Verb

• pry
• pull
• lift

Examples of lever in a Sentence

Noun

They used their money as a lever to gain political power.

Verb

He levered the rock out of the hole.

the workers used crowbars to lever the heavy stone block into its new position

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Scavs are also walking around with better gear than usual, including revolvers and lever-action rifles. — Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Getting there also got boring — cut staff, pull back on advertising, maybe spin off a business or lever up and give the money to shareholders. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 June 2026

Verb

And those tails, on both sides, are levered bets on Musk succeeding or failing. — Vineer Bhansali, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

However, smaller and more highly levered retailers with limited capital and technological expertise are more vulnerable to losing market share. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French levier, lever, from lever to raise, from Latin levare, from levis light in weight — more at light

Verb

derivative of lever entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lever

• bever
• clever
• ever
• haver
• never
• rever
• sever
• cantilever
• howsoever
• whatsoever
• whensoever
• wheresoever

Kids Definition

lever

1 of 2 noun

le·​ver ˈlev-ər  ˈlē-vər 

1

: a bar used to pry or move something

2

: a stiff bar for applying a force (as for lifting a weight) at one point of its length by effort at a second point and turning at a third point on a fulcrum

3

: a bar or rod used to run or adjust something

a gearshift lever

lever

2 of 2 verb

levered; levering ˈlev-(ə-)riŋ 

ˈlēv-

: to pry, raise, or move with a lever

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lever "bar for prying," from early French levier (same meaning), from lever (verb) "to raise," from Latin levare "to raise" — related to elevate